| Place | Oceania: New Guinea1, Papua New Guinea, Papua, Owen Stanley Range, Kokoda Trail |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P01291.004 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
C. 1942. THE 5TH AIR FORCE (USAAF) C47 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT "IRENE" FLYING SOMEWHERE OVER NEW ...
Description
C. 1942. THE 5TH AIR FORCE (USAAF) C47 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT "IRENE" FLYING SOMEWHERE OVER NEW GUINEA. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS AMONG THE FIRST ALLIED TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT TO DROP SUPPLIES TO AUSTRALIAN TROOPS THE MORNING AFTER KOKODA HAD BEEN RE-CAPTURED. DURING A RUN OVER KOKODA THE ROPE HOLDING THE REAR CARGO DOOR BROKE AND THE DOOR WAS TORN FROM ITS HINGES AND WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE PORT TAILPLANE. ON THIS MISSION TO KOKODA THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN BY SERGEANT FORDE, USAAF. TWO AUSTRALIANS, LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN SYD KILDEA, NO. 1 MOBILE WORKS SQUADRON, RAAF, AND PRIVATE JACK ASSISTED THE USAAF CREW TO PUSH SUPPLIES FROM THE AIRCRAFT. (DONOR S. KILDEA)